A devastating fire at a ski resort hotel in Turkey’s Bolu mountains claimed the lives of 76 people and left dozens more injured on Tuesday.
The blaze erupted around 3:30 a.m. at the Grand Kartal Hotel, a 12-storey building in the Kartalkaya ski resort, quickly engulfing the structure.
Panicked guests, trapped in the smoke-filled corridors, were forced to jump from windows or attempt to climb down using bedsheets—some of which ripped, leading to fatal falls.
One man jumped from the 11th floor, while a father was heard shouting in desperation about throwing his child to safety.
Emergency crews arrived at the scene, where sheets were seen dangling from upper-floor windows.
One hotel guest told Ekol TV that his family woke up to smoke-filled corridors and had no choice but to jump from a lower-floor window into the snow below.
Firefighters arrived around 45 minutes after the first emergency call, but their efforts were hindered by the hotel’s location on a slope, which limited access to certain areas of the building.
President Tayyip Erdogan declared a National Day of Mourning on Wednesday, and Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed that 238 guests were staying at the hotel at the time.
Although the fire was extinguished by afternoon, officials are conducting DNA tests to identify victims and have detained nine individuals in connection with the investigation.
Authorities have vowed to hold those responsible for the tragedy accountable, with prosecutors promising a thorough inquiry.
The fire occurred during the peak ski season, when families from Istanbul and Ankara typically visit the area.
